Clifton Museum committee reports progress, shares draft mission and continues funding work

Members of the Clifton Museum Committee updated the Town Council on Feb. 4 about work to convert a historic building into a museum and visitor center, shared a draft mission statement and said they are assembling financing options.

Lynne Garvey-Hodge and Jay Palau told the council the committee has met several times and completed a walk-through and itemization of build-out tasks for the Manse building. A committee email attached to the meeting materials summarized meetings on Jan. 11, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 and said Historic Vienna's president Anne Stuntz met with the group to describe start-up experience for a comparable local museum project.

The committee circulated a draft mission that "reads as follows: The Friends of the Clifton Museum is a non-profit corporation dedicated to: preserving and promoting Clifton's heritage through the identification, preservation and interpretation of historically significant places, events and persons; educating the public through permanent and revolving exhibits, outreach programs, special events and publications; and enhancing a spirit of community through an awareness of Clifton's past, present and future through pictures, artifacts and stories." The committee asked the council what additional tasks or timelines it would like the group to address.

Vice Mayor Steve Effros reiterated concerns about using taxpayer funding for the proposal; committee members said funding mechanisms are still being assembled and they will return with more detail. The committee also noted the Pink House (a town-owned property) as a potential alternative location that the council might consider.

The committee requested guidance on specific next steps and timelines and said it will continue to develop cost estimates and funding options before returning to the council.